Slotted print type belt with angularly disposed type mounting strips

ABSTRACT

A print type belt provides a flexible band that is slotted to form a plurality of angular mounting strips extending across the band, and a like number of type members removably attached to the strips at their centrally located apexes, the arms of the strips acting to resiliently support the type members and to maintain their alignment with a print line during a printing operation.

United States Patent Snider-man [4 1 June6, 1972 SLOTTED PRINT TYPE BELT WITH 2,936,7 4 5/1960 ANGULARLY DISPOSED TYPE 1 MOUNTING STRIPS v 2,222,333 11/1940 [72] Inventor: Albert Sniderman, Southfield, Mich.

Primary Examiner-William B. Penn Asslgneei Burroughs p Detroit. Mlch- Attorney-Kenneth L.- Miller and Edwin W. Uren [22] Filed: Oct. 1, 1970 ABSTRACT [2]] Appl' 77183 A print type belt provides a flexible band that is slotted to form a plurality of angular mounting strips extending across [52] US. Cl ..l0l/ll1 the band, and a like number of type members removably at- [51 1 Int. Cl. ..B4l j 1/20 tached t0 the strips at their centrally located apexes, the arms [58] Field of Search mm 1 I, 93, I03, 1 12, 380, Of he st p acting to resiliently support the type members and 101/381 to maintain their alignment with a print line during a printing operation. [56] References Cited 5 Claims, 8 Drawing guns UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,267,661 l2/l94l Meyers ..lOl/l ll /1 opoooooooo OOO'OOOOOOOOOOO PATENTEDJUH 6 m2 3. 667, 384

FIG.I

(28 F|G.2 2 30 O O G O O O O 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0 .FIG.4 FIGJ5 54 42 %58 26 FIG.6

' INVENTOR ALBERT SNIDERMAN BY M AGENT SLOTTED PRINT TYPE BELT WITH ANGULARLY DISPOSED TYPE MOUNTING STRIPS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatuses carrying type members in a curvilinear path, at least a portion of which are aligned with a print line during a printing operation in which the type members are typically forced against a record medium by associated print hammers.

Prior art discloses print type belts using flexible bands to carry type members mounted thereon past a print position in a printing mechanism. The flexible bands typically form a continuous loop, and the type members are generally constructed as an integral part of the belt, attached rigidly to the belt by various means such as clamps or screws, or loosely connected to the belt by engageable teeth or projections.

Belts having integrally constructed type members present several inherent disadvantages, including the fact the print characters cannot be hardened prior to construction of the belts, or individually rearranged or replaced in the event of damage or wear. Also, since the printing operation tends to momentarily deform the flexible band, misalignment of the print characters at the time of their impact on a record medium frequently results.

Belts with rigidly mounted print members have also presented their share of problems, including the difficulties experienced during their construction in accurately positioning and securing the print members on the bands. Such difficulties in mounting rigid-type print members have generally necessitated expensive and cumbersome hardware the use of which renders print member mounting both expensive and time consuming; Deformation of the flexible band during a printing operation may also result in the misalignment of rigidly mounted print characters.

Loosely mounted print members have also proven troublesome. particularly with respect to type alignment during printing. Even the use of supporting guides through which the print members travel when passing a print station has failed to fully overcome this prevalent characteristic of loosely mounted print members, in addition to the expense that is involved in their construction and maintenance. Friction between such supporting guides and the type belt also gives rise to parts wear and deterioration, again aggravating the alignment problem and adding to maintenance costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a print type belt that does not require the addition of type member guides in order to maintain type alignment in the print station, thereby reducing printer construction and maintenance costs and aleviating alignment problems resulting from wear and deterioration of parts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a print type belt wherein type misalignment during a printing operation is eliminated, and wherein normal deformation at the moment of impact is controllably cushioned by symmetrically resilient type member supports.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a print type belt into which the print members may easily and accurately be attachably inserted, thereby reducing the time and cost that normally obtains in print type installation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a print type belt that requires no extra hardware for securably attaching the type members to their supports in the belt thereby effecting savings in fabrication, assembly and maintenance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a print type belt wherein the individual type members may be readily and conveniently replaced or rearranged.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a print type belt which lends itself to economies and efficiencies in manufacture, the separately and conveniently installable type members being hardened prior to their attachment to the flexible band.

An important aspect of the invention is the use of a flexible band having angular mounting strips extending across its width, the strips providing a balanced, flexure-type mounting for type members, these strips act as guides with respect to the band as it passes through a print station during a printing operation.

Another important aspect of the invention is to provide a print type belt that may be constructed in such manner that preselected values of type member mass and flexible band thickness may be used to produce a combination that provides the desired, naturally resonant, type reciprocation rate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the in vention will be more clearly understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical printer employing a print type belt embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a representative section of a flexible band used in the printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 2 showing one angular mounting strip with an empty type membermounting aperture at its apex,

FIG. 4 is a front view of a representative type member;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the type member of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the type member shown in FIGS. 4 and 5; I

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 with the addition of a type member shown attached to the apex of the angular mounting strip; and

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 8-8 in FIG. 7. a

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. '1, the typical printer shown'is provided with print hammers 10, an impression means or platen l2 and a print type belt 14. The print type belt 14 is arranged in a continuous loop, and is supported and driven by sprocket wheels 16-16 such that it passes between the print hammers l0 and the platen 12, the area therebetween defining a print station generally designated at 18. Also shown in FIG. 1 is an inked ribbon 20 supported by'and alternately: driven between a pair of spools 22 and along a pathway passing between the print type belt 14 and a representative record medium 24 that is carried by and advanceably activated by the platen 12.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the print type belt 14 is made up of a flexible band 26 which is perforated along its edges with substantially circular apertures 28 to receive the driving teeth of the sprocket wheels 16 (FIG. 1). The band 26 is symmetrically slotted to form a plurality of substantially V-shaped mounting strips 30, the strips being horizontally oriented as shown and substantially occupying the width of the band, the apexes of the strips being centrally disposed relative to said width. Each of the apexes of the strips 30 is provided with a substantially l-shaped slot'32, forming a pair of elongated and diametrically opposed ears 34.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, each type member 36 is formed of a flat body 38, a printing character 40 affixed to one side of the body 38, and a mounting projection 42 extending from the opposite side thereof, such projection being bulbous in cross section.

, Referring to FIG. 7, an isolated mounting strip 30 is shown with a type member 36 attached to its apex. The manner of attachment is detailed in FIG. 8, which shows the ears 34 of the slot 32 retainably deflected by the bulbous mounting projection 42 of the type member 36, Such deflection having occurred upon the insertion of the projection therebetween. The deflected cars 34 restrainingly abut the bulbous mounting projection 42 to thereby secure the type member against withdrawal.

OPERATION or THE INVENTION With reference to FIG. 1, the operation of the typical printer in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is incorporated may be described. During a printing operation, the sprocket wheels 16 drive the print type belt 14 so that each of its type members 36 is carried by the flexible band 26 through the printing station 18. Upon an appropriate signal from a suitable synchronizing circuit (not shown), a preselected'harnrner is activated in the direction of the platen l2, to effectively press the ribbon 20 against the print medium 24 and to thereby transfer the image of the character to the medium 24. I

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, and in greater detail in FIG. 7, upon forcible impact of a type member 36 by a hammer 10, the flexible mounting strip 30 to which it is attached is resiliently displaced toward the platen 12, the resulting distortion in the mounting strip being vertically symmetrical as a consequence of the type members being mounted on the apex of the strip. The original alignment of the type member 36 with respect to a print line on the medium 24 is accordingly maintained. When the hammer 10 is released, the restoring force of the strip 30 will serve to return the type member 36 to its original position. While the print type belt has been shown and described in detail. it should be understood that many changes and variations in the formation of the mounting strips and in the mode of attaching the type members thereto may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: g

l. A drivable print type belt for use in a chain-type printer and comprising a flexible band slotted to form a plurality of acutely angular type member mounting strips extending across said band, and a like. number of type members individually mounted on individual ones of said mounting strips, said mounting strips providing facility for type member mounting and reliable type member retention during a driven operation of the belt in a printer, said acutely angular mounting strips being disposed symmetrically across said band, the apexes of said strips being centrally positioned relative to the width thereof.

2. A print type belt as defined by claim 1' wherein each of said angular mounting strips is provided with a slot formed at the apex thereof, thematerial of the band on opposite sides of each slot providing a pair of elongated and diametrically opposed ears for retaining a corresponding one of said mounted type members.

3. A print type belt as defined by claim 2 wherein each of said type members comprises a body, a print character mounted on said body, and a mounting projection extending outwardly from said body opposite said print character and entering the slot of its associated mounting strip for retention v by the pair of cars thereof. I 4. A print type belt as defined by claim 1 wherein said band is perforated at regular intervals along at least one of its edges to receive driving teeth of an associated chain-type printer.

5. A driven print type belt for use in a chain-type printer and comprising a flexible band perforated at regular intervals along each of its lateral margins to receive driving sprocket teeth and slotted central to the margins to form a plurality of similarly oriented V-shaped, mounting strips symmetrically disposed across said band, the apexes of said strips being aligned with the longitudinal median of said band and being longitudinally offset relative to the respective connections of said mounting strips to the margins of said bands, and type members individually mounted on individual ones of said mounting strips, said mounting strips each providing facility for apexially mounting and retaining one of said type members and enabling deflection ofits apexially mounted type member laterally out of the plane of the band for making a printing impression. 

1. A drivable print type belt for use in a chain-type printer and comprising a flexible band slotted to form a plurality of acutely angular type member mounting strips extending across said band, and a like number of type members individually mounted on individual ones of said mounting strips, said mounting strips providing facility for type member mounting and reliable type member retention during a driven operation of the belt in a printer, said acutely angular mounting strips being disposed symmetrically across said band, the apexes of said strips being centrally positioned relative to the width thereof.
 2. A print type belt as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said angular mounting strips is provided with a slot formed at the apex thereof, the material of the band on opposite sides of each slot providing a pair of elongated and diametrically opposed ears for retaining a corresponding one of said mounted type members.
 3. A print type belt as defined by claim 2 wherein each of said type members comprises a body, a print character mounted on said body, and a mounting projection extending outwardly from said body opposite said print character and entering the slot of its associated mounting strip for retention by the pair of ears thereof.
 4. A print type belt as defined by claim 1 wherein said band is perforated at regular intervals along at least one of its edges to receive driving teeth of an associated chain-type printer.
 5. A driven print type belt for use in a chain-type printer and comprising a flexible band perforated at regular intervals along each of its lateral margins to receive driving sprocket teeth and slotted central to the margins to form a plurality of similarly oriented V-shaped mounting strips symmetrically disposed across saId band, the apexes of said strips being aligned with the longitudinal median of said band and being longitudinally offset relative to the respective connections of said mounting strips to the margins of said bands, and type members individually mounted on individual ones of said mounting strips, said mounting strips each providing facility for apexially mounting and retaining one of said type members and enabling deflection of its apexially mounted type member laterally out of the plane of the band for making a printing impression. 